Who has Donald Trump picked to serve in his cabinet and other top roles?

Donald Trump has reclaimed the White House after a divisive campaign marked by harsh rhetoric, two assassination attempts and a last-minute challenge from Kamala Harris, who replaced President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket in July. Mr Trump has begun nominating senior figures to his cabinet and administration. The National looks at who he has chosen so far and who might be picked. Marco Rubio , secretary of state Mr Rubio, a US senator from Florida and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, has been nominated for the powerful post of secretary of state. He was listed as a possible running mate for Mr Trump this year and has served on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and as the senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Mr Rubio’s staunch support for Israel has been a defining feature of his political career. He has consistently backed military and economic aid to the country while endorsing policies that address Israel’s security concerns. He has also advocated fostering strong ties with Gulf nations, viewing relationships with those countries as essential for regional stability and efforts to counter the influence of Iran. Matt Gaetz, attorney general Mr Gaetz is a Florida representative who was a lawyer before joining Congress. Mr Gaetz has been a strong ally of Mr Trump in the House. He has been deeply critical of the Department of Justice and clashed with current Attorney General Merrick Garland in June after Mr Trump's conviction in New York. He has argued that this and other cases against Mr Trump were politically motivated. Mr Trump said Mr Gaetz has “distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform” at the Department of Justice. Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence Ms Gabbard, the first Samoan-American to serve in Congress, has represented the state of Hawaii as a Democrat from 2013-2022. She left the party to join the Republicans that year. Ms Gabbard is a combat veteran who was sent three times to the Middle East and Africa. “Tulsi has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans,” Mr Trump said as he announced her nomination. Pete Hegseth , secretary of defence Fox News host Hegseth has been tapped to be secretary of defence, an unexpected move that would place a television presenter in charge of America's vast military with an annual budget approaching $1 trillion. Mr Hegseth, 44, is a US Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He won two Bronze Stars for his tours overseas and has railed against what conservatives decry as a “woke” Pentagon that they say is more concerned about attracting diverse recruits than it is on fighting wars. He has said he left the army in 2021 after being deemed an extremist by a force that didn't want him any more. Kristi Noem , secretary of homeland security Once seen as a potential running mate for Mr Trump, Ms Noem is currently serving her second four-year term as South Dakota's Governor. The Covid-19 pandemic allowed for her rise to national prominence when she refused to impose a statewide mask mandate. Ms Noem endorsed Mr Trump for president in September last year and has been a vocal supporter of his “Make America Great Again” platform. Ms Noem has expressed strong support for Mr Trump's immigration policies and has defended other Republican governors in their efforts to crack down on migrants in their states. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, heads of the Department of Government Efficiency The two businessmen will be tasked with cutting government waste. Tesla head Mr Musk became a crucial ally to Mr Trump during his campaign, reportedly spending more than $100 million to help the Republican win and repeatedly boosting Mr Trump's candidacy on X, which he owns. Mr Ramaswamy is a former Republican presidential candidate who threw his support behind Mr Trump after ending his campaign. Mr Trump said the department would “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies”. Mike Waltz, national security adviser Mr Waltz served in the US Army as a Green Beret, deploying to Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa, before being elected to Congress representing the state of Florida in 2019. He previously served in the George W Bush White House and at the Pentagon. Mr Trump described him as “an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran and global terrorism”. He will have to help Mr Trump navigate a troubled geopolitical landscape, with wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan. Mr Trump has had bumpy relationships with his former national security advisers: John Bolton and Lt Gen HR McMaster have publicly criticised their former boss. John Ratcliffe, CIA director Mr Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence for the final months of Mr Trump’s first term, leading American spy agencies during the Covid-19 pandemic and as the US government contended with foreign efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. He was elected to Congress in 2014, but his visibility rose in 2019 as a defender of Trump during the House’s first impeachment proceedings against him. Mr Trump said that Mr Ratcliffe would be a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH”. Mike Huckabee , ambassador to Israel A former governor of Arkansas and devout Christian, Mr Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his nomination comes as Mr Trump has promised to align US foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Mr Trump said Mr Huckabee, an Evangelical Christian, will work “tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East”. Speaking to NewsNation in June, Mr Huckabee said there can be no negotiating with Hamas, which the US and other countries have designated a terrorist group. Elise Stefanik , ambassador to the UN Ms Stefanik, a fierce advocate for Israel, is a congresswoman from New York and chairwoman of the House of Representative's Republican Conference, which whips the party's message to members. Mr Trump described his nominee as a “strong, tough, and smart America First fighter”. Elected to Congress in 2014, Ms Stefanik was initially a moderate conservative but has shifted to the right over time and now aligns closely with Mr Trump's wing of the Republican Party. Throughout the Gaza war, Ms Stefanik has intensified criticism of the UN, accusing it of “entrenched anti-Semitic bias” for condemning Israel’s air strikes and ground assaults in the enclave. Steven Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East Mr Trump described Mr Witkoff as “a highly respected leader in business and philanthropy, who has made every project and community he has been involved with stronger and more prosperous”. He added that Mr Witkoff “will be an unrelenting voice for peace”. Mr Trump made bringing peace to the Middle East a major focus of his campaign. Mr Witkoff is a real estate investor and Trump campaign donor. He is not known to have any diplomatic experience or experience in the Middle East. Thomas Barrack, potential US special envoy Mr Barrack , an American-Lebanese billionaire, is a longtime ally of Mr Trump. Mr Barrack, who chaired Mr Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee, had faced legal scrutiny over his foreign dealings, raising questions about his influence on US policy. He was acquitted of charges alleging he acted as an unregistered agent of a foreign government under the first Trump presidency. Known for his strong ties to the Middle East, the California-based investor may be considered for a role as a US special envoy. Joel Rayburn, potential foreign policy adviser Joel Rayburn, a retired US Army colonel and Middle East specialist, is an experienced diplomat and intelligence officer with a background in US foreign policy towards the region. Mr Rayburn previously served as the US special envoy for Syria and deputy assistant secretary for Levant affairs during the first Trump administration, where he played a vital role in formulating and introducing US strategies on Syria, including countering ISIS and curbing Iranian influence. Known for his extensive regional knowledge, Mr Rayburn has cultivated strong ties with Middle Eastern allies. John Paulson, potential treasury secretary John Paulson, billionaire hedge fund manager and significant donor to Mr Trump, is among the leading candidates for treasury secretary. Known for his advocacy of tax cuts and deregulation, Mr Paulson has expressed interest in the role, sources told Reuters. His stance on economic policy aligns with other probable members of Mr Trump’s economic team, favouring targeted tariffs to protect US national security and address trade practices. Mr Paulson's April fund-raiser brought in more than $50 million for Mr Trump, underscoring his influence within the former president's circle. Robert F Kennedy , Jr, potential health adviser Mr Kennedy, long dismissed as an anti-vax conspiracy theorist by the Democrats, will now probably be invited into a Trump administration as a health adviser. He has said he wants to ban fluoride – long credited with saving children from dental cavities – from drinking water and Mr Trump has seemed receptive to his idea of increased scrutiny of vaccines. Mr Kennedy ran as a third-party candidate in this election before announcing his support for Mr Trump.

Who has Donald Trump picked to serve in his cabinet and other top roles?

President-elect has begun nominating senior figures to his administration